Police red-faced after ‘alco’ gaffe

POLICE officers working to defuse disputes involving Australian Aborigines have been left red-faced after receiving a consignment of uniforms which labelled them ‘alcos’ - Aussie slang for alcoholics.

In a sobering lesson to always inspect goods before accepting them, the New South Wales police force took delivery of 50 lime green vests with ALCO emblazoned on them instead of ACLO, an abbreviation for Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers, The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported yesterday.

The original purchase order was spelled correctly, but somehow the manufacturers jumbled the words up.

A spokeswoman for police commissioner Ken Moroney said he was annoyed by the mistake and apologised for any offence caused to Aborigines.

The spokeswoman told the newspaper police staff responsible for uniforms “did not inspect the writing on the vests prior to them being dispatched” to officers around the state late last week.

“Uniform services accepts the blame,” she said.

“There was no intention to offend anybody. It was a simple printing error.”

Alcohol abuse is a major problem in many Aboriginal communities, and helps fuel violent crime and other disputes.

Mr Moroney apologised for any offence the typo may have caused before the vests were recalled.

Aboriginals are among the poorest groups in Australia and the New South Wales police force developed the community officers to provide a highly visible point of contact with the community.